Coke remover for tar and petroleum stills and the like



c. A. I Ewls 2,659,916

v COKE REMOVER FOR TAR ANO PETROLEUM sTlLLs ANO THE LIKE Nov. 24A, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 7, 1948 IN V EN TOR. YC HESTER A. LEWIS ATTOPZE'Y www mom vom Nv. 24, 1959 C, A, LEWIS 2,659,916

COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE Y Filed Oct. 7, 1948 8 Shee1',S-S!'1eefI 2 JNVENTOR.

QHESTER A. LEWIS Y//Myflw d T TFNE'Y.

C. A. LEWIS Nov. 24, 1953 COKE REMOvER FOR TAR ANO PETROLEUM sTLEs AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 194e y 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 n@ mm s JNVENTOR. CHI-:STER A. LEWIS- ATTORWY C. A. LEWIS Nov. 24, 1953 COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENTOR. QHESTER A. LEWIS ATTOHWY fria. 6

Nov. 24, 1953 c. A. L Ewls 2,659,916

COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 7, 194e l a sheets-sheet 5 l O INVENTOR.

'CH ESTE A. LEWIS ATTORNEY l C. A. LEWIS Nov. 24, 1953 r 2,659,916

COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE S sheets-sheet e Filed oct. 7. 194e Olv l \\\\N a R M mm mL, m 1 R m f n@ um. H c \m.

al.: mw?

[I E :l ..,|...H|..........1.|.|. --.www Wm. N @WQ Nk.. IHN. HHHHH .|.-.ww mw /u/ mm mmm wm mm mm. W R 7 C. A. LEWIS Nov. 24, 1953 COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Oct. 7, 1948 INVENToR.

ATTOHNH 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 C. A. LEWIS COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKEl gEsTER A. Lywls A @yf/7 WMI Nov. 24, 1953 Filed oct. 7, 1948 Patented Nov. 24, 1953 COKE REMOVER FOR TAR AND PETROLEUM STILLS AND THE LIKE Chester A. Lewis, Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to C. A. Lewis, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 7, 1948, Serial No. 53,205

3 Claims.

` This invention relates to machines for removis supported horizontally over a furnace; the distillates being withdrawn at the top.

At the end of the process the residual coke in a tank of the above indicated size lls the tank from end to end to a Vdepth of as much as ve feet, and must be removed from the tank before the next cycle of operations can be started.

According to the present commercial practice,

the tank is provided at one end near the bottom with a man-hole and a removable cover therefor; and after the coke has cooled sufficiently, the man-hole cover is removed; and common laborers, beginning at the man-hole and working into land through the length of the tank, chop and break the coke into pieces with hand tools, and

. shovel it out through the man-hole.

This cleaning operation is costly. The mass Vof coke to be removed will average twelve tons.

At present day wage rates the labor cost to remove the coke willlaverage $2.58 per ton or $30.96 per cleaning job.

` The time consumed in doing the cleaning job by labor and hand tools, even when three men work in the tank at one time, is so long that the complete cycle of distilling a tank or tar or petroleum and cleaning out the tank requires thirtysix hours.

Due to the conditions of heat and dust unde which labor must work in the tank, it has become a problem to obtain labor that will do the cleaning job; and this shortage of laborers has resulted in curtailing production throughout the industry.

The coke removed from the tank is an important by-product and commercial material, and users thereof are constantly pressing all manufacturers to increase production of this Vital commodity to meet the increasing demands of our times.

It is into this environment that the present `invention has been projected. The invention com- V prises, generally speaking, a machine for removing the greater Vpart of the coke from the tank, Y

and requiring only a minimum of h-and labor; and by its use the tank can be cleaned out at a labor cost of only $.44 per ton or a total cost of only $528. Furthermore, the time of cleaning is so reduced that the complete cycle of distilling and cleaning required only twenty-four hours; so that a further saving is effected in the greater output rate for a given installation.

More particularly, the invention comprises a machine having a power driven cutter in the form `of a boring tool, fed into the retort through the man-hole, `and which cuts or bores a large hole through the coke from end to end of the retort; :and the tool comprises a conveyor which concurrently conveys the bored-out coke rearwardly out of the retort to a point rearwardly of the retort.

The tool and its conveyor are then withdrawn.

The depth of coke in the tank is, as mentioned, about rive feet deep. The hole bored out by the cutter is about 56 inches in diameter. This leaves a thin shell of coke around the hole two inches thick at `the top fand lbottom of the hole, and in a layer along the sidesof the tank.

Labor then enters the hole and readily collapses or breaks down the shell into pieces. The tool and its conveyor are again fed into the tank and they pick up the pieces and convey them out rearwardly. This may be done twice, once for each side of the tank.y

The remaining fragments of coke cleanedupand removed by labor. Y

The coke conveyed out of the tank is conveyed to a point rearwardly remote from the tank'where it may be loaded on cars or trucks and transported to a delivery point for sale.

. These operations of the machine remove approximately of all of the coke in the tank leaving only 10% to be removed by hand labor, with the savings above described.

Preferably, the machine of the invention is in the form of la self-propelled vehicle, by which the tool including the conveyor, referred to, which evidently must be of considerable size and weight, may be stored out of the way at a point remote from the tank, and at the time of use propelled to the tank, and positioned for entrance` into the tank. And the vehicle preferably comprises power operated mechanism to yadjustably raise and lower the tool to adjust it relative to the man-hole; and to feed and withdraw the tool; and to drive the tool and its conveyor; and comprises operable controls by which one man, riding the vehicle, .can steer the vehicle and control said are then fmovements and operations of the tool vehicle.

lt the primary object of the invention to proshaft 34 is supported at these points by bearings Y inside of the screw shaft; and at its rear end the tool shaft is supported by a bearing construction 38 on the elevator cage 8; and the rear end of the vscrew shaft is supported by a bearing construction 39 on the tool shaft.

lrests upon and is secured to and bridges the conveyor trough flanges 26 (one of which is visible in the sectional showing) of the conveyor trough 25. Depending therefrom is a. ring 4| of T-section. An annular housing 42 surrounding the tubular screw shaft 33 is mounted within the ring 4| by radial flanges 43 on the housing bolted to the ring 4| as at 44. The housing 42 is preferably in two parts meeting on a transverse medial plane at 45 to facilitate assembly.

Within the housing 42 are stationary outer cylindrical bearing raceways 46-46. Telescoped over the outside of the tubular screw shaft 33 are cylindrical inner raceways E1- 41. Between the Araceways are roller orV needle bearing elements 48--43. The housing 42 is sealed to the shaft 33 Vby annular packing rings 49--49 surrounding the shaft and held in place by end rings 58-58 on the ends of the housing 42.

By this bearing construction, the screw shaft 33 is rotatively supported on the conveyor trough and floats endwise in the bearing.

On the inside of the screw shaft 33 are two v oppositely conical outer raceways .5i-52, telescoped into an enlarged diameter end portion of the shaft which provides a shoulder 53, the raceway 5| abutting upon the shoulder 53.

On the outside of the tool shaft 34 is a double cone inner raceway 54 telescoped over a reduced diameter end portion of the shaft which provides a shoulder 55.

Y Between the raceways 5|54 are bearing roll- )whereby clearance in the bearing may be ad- Vjusted, and whereby a shoulder for engagement by the raceway 52 is provided.

By this bearing construction, the tool shaft 34 is rotatively supported in and coaxially of the screw shaft 33.

The bearing construction on the elevator cage at the rear end of the tool shaft, and to be described, prevents it from moving endwise; and

the double opposed cone bearing construction comprising the raceways 5|-54 and 52-54 and the inclined rollers 53-51 therebetween, prevent endwise movement of the screw shaft 33 in either direction, with respect to the tool shaft 34, as

will be apparent.

. In Fig. 5, extending from the open end of the tubular tool shaft 34, is a stub shaft 59 having a reduced diameter shank 60 telescoped into the end of the shaft and pinned thereto by pins 6 Upon the stub shaft 59 is keyed as at 32 the hub 63 of a rotary boring tool 35 having radial forwardly cutting blades 34-64 (see also Fig. 4).

On the forward end of the stub shaft 59 is a reduced diameter threaded shank 65 upon which i -isv screwed a pointed or conical nose piece 66, carrying a conical pilot boring blade 61 shown in Figs. 1, 2, and Ll, for boring a pilot center hole ahead of the boring tool 35.

`A transverse shoulder 68 on the nose piece 66.

.abuts upon the hub 63 and holds it rearwardly to engage its inner end at 33A with the raceway 54 and clamp the raceway 54 against the shoulder 55 on the shaft 34.

lThe end of the tubular shaft 33 is closed and sealed by an annular sealing ring 69 surrounding a reduced diameter portion 10 of the hub 63, and retained by the ring 58.

As best shown in Fig. 10 and indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the screw shaft 33 is in two axially aligned sections 33A and 33B coupled together at an intermediate point of the shaft, and the tool shaft 34 is likewise in two coupled sections 34A and 34B, to facilitate assembling the intermediate bearing construction 36 therewith.

The section 34A of the tool shaft 34 has a coupling pin 1| telescoped half way into it and fastened at one end by pins I2-12. The section 34B is telescoped over the free end of the coupling pin 1| and abutted against the section 34A as at 13.

Bearing retaining rings 14-15 are telescoped over the shaft section 34B with a bearing there- `between comprising an inner cylindrical raceway 15 on the shaft section 34B, and an outer cylindrical raceway 11 therearound to t within the shaft section 33B, and rollers or needles 18 between the raceways.

Radial screwsv19 are projected through the rings i4-15 and the Wall of the shaft section 34B and screwed into the coupling pin 1|.

The two end portions of the tubular screw shaft sections 33A and 33B have outer and inner coupling sleeves 88| telescoped therewith and abut at their ends at 82 and screws 83 are projected through the sleeve 80 and sections 33A and 33B and screwed into the sleeve 8| and effect the coupling.

The section 33B ts over the raceway 11 aS aforesaid and supports it, to rotatively support the tool shaft 34 therein.

Around the outside of the section 33B is a housing S4 in two parts 85 and 86 meeting -at a medial plane 81; and containing outer and inner the screw shaft 33 is rotatively supported in and floats endwise in the bearing parts 83--89-93;

and supports the bearing parts 16-11-18 and the latter rotatively support the tool shaft 34 and allow it to float endwise.

The bearing supports for the rear ends of the screw shaft 33 and tool shaft 34 are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 9.

A stub shaft 9S, as a continuation of the tool shaft 34, has a reduced diameter portion 91 telescoped into the rear end of the tool shaft 34; and the stub shaft is rotatably supported at its rear end and held against endwise shifting in a bearing construction 38 mounted on a bracket 98 which is supported by the elevator cage slides 9-9; the bearing construction 38 being of conventional design and for that reason not shown in detail.

The rear end of the screw shaft 33 projects through an opening 99 in the conveyor end plate 21, extends rearwardly thereof and-at its end has A Eril-rg |02 y.is 'secured/on thetool ishaft 34 `5by screws |03. A ring |04 surrounds the ltoo'lsshaft 'iiing's (|04 land |02 iis 4a bearing construction Scomprisin'g Jan "outer cylindrical ra'cew'ay H05 Itting Within the tubular screw slia`it533ffaninner-cylin- -id'rical racew'ay m6, ft'ted-zon'theftookshaft 34, land bearing l.needles orfrollers IIl therebetween.

'-*Ifhe bearing isseale'd by'la packing ring |08 iin anianhul'ar groove of 'the ring IIT4. 'Thescrew shaft F33 thus iis rotativelysupported on fthe t'ool 'snaflt ist and fii'oats fendwisethereon.

duction gearing enclosed in a housing I I5, onithe Aillo'o'r Stil i' of the i elevator fcage f8.

Ait Z'| 2,SrFig.\-,9,lis anfelectromagnetic clutch 'betwefenitheconveyorshaitl 3fan'd1the tool :shaft -3 4. 'The sleeve I09,1Fifg. :9, has -`a :flange I -'and bolted itiieret'o fa's iat ;II8 -is ian :annular ldisc -Jof 'electrical insulation -IfI-S.

Bolted to the disc II9 afsalt'I2-Ulisianannular fclutch el'ement ill-2|, fon"`which .fis mounted the IildelementV .1:22 Tof fan electromagnetic :clutch -portion I 23 .over whichis4 telescop'ed with -fclear- Panceanelectric"'winding |24. .An actuatorarma- `tureelement llzgsu'rroundsthe Istubshaftga'nd has 3a Etubular vportion I2 6 Ion vthe 'loutside of :the `'Wlimiin'g JIi24 and :supports thewindings; iandlan annularclutch element |J2`1'ismounted on lthe tubular portion I 26. Annulariffriction discsfl28 fare disposed between the clutch elements I2I |30 are provided at theen'ds'lofth'eftubularfp'ortions 'w26 :aridi |f23.

.The farmature .elem'ent '1|25 'uis centered by .1an

La'xinlar shoulder t3 li'thereoftelescoped overf'aninular :shoulder E32 .on afzconector Yring carrier,

`'rangements :being well known .to 'thoseiskilled Jin y 'ther-art.

When currentisfsupplied to the brushes I 31 fby wires 5 |-38-|'38, it' energizes the'windingl 24 ;v 'and flux in the work gaps |29-Lf30draws`theclutch #elements i I2 I-|2'| toward :each otherfand .'driv- 1- inglyfconn-ects them through 'r the .frictiondiscs gravatar@ ily conveyed material. The =spouts ,fl 35 each `has .a sheet metal :sliding :door or :gate 1140,; .sliding vertically 1in rguitles I4 I-iI'IliI, :normally abutting rnpomtherlowersideiof -thefspout as iat I 42 Fig. 6 :and :shutting yoi -discharge row; .and `extending .above the `top wall :of `.the 7spout as :at |43 :and iprov'rded with hand igrips A:M4-HM Joy which it may be raised (or removed) Lto'permitfdischarge vflow.

By ftliis means, :rearwardly 'conveyed `material :can :be :discharged upon Vthe ground 4or into .a vehicle at either ,or'bothr sides iof .the main iframe.

'The iront 'Wheels ,f3-3 are :rotatively mounted inn zaniaxle |45, sFig. .11, `lsupported on brackets [M6-5F46 secured :to the :underside of 1the main 'bed-.5.

They'arefpower'driven by la motor :|41 ,anda n:transmission :indicated l generally at -I48 mounted on the underside .of :the-bed Bias'follows. The motoriMfifdrives av pinion |49 meshed'withagear d150-ionapropellerishaft =I'5I vsupported in-a bear- 4ingloracket,1:52 aand 'driving one'side of anelec .tro-magnetic. clutch I 5-3 magnetically engageable :and l'energizable 'by a circuit comprising 4wires FIM-1:54. The'otherfside of the clutch is connected :toiaipinion Iz551in .a differential gear and #axle housing i 2 I3 1 of` standard automotive design, the gears and their connection'to'the axles not fshoWn; ibut .the endsfof the 'axles 'ISS-:|56 are shown and :have belt pulleys -I Evi- |51 -thereon connected by beltit--L-SBltolarger diameter belt Apulleys 15S-|59 :connected to -the .Wheels '33.

Atthe rear ofthe bed-5, the .wheel axles not l'shownare connected l byfsteering fknuckles I 60- =|`60 tofaftransverse mainaxle IBI, the-steering knuckles having farms I62-I62 connected by a 'reach .r rod |153. 'A vertical 'steering wheel -shaft =I14 (see Valso iFig. :1) 'is 4connected at =its Alower -end `to ilinkage :|55 :to move fthe reach rod |63 transversely to steer the rear wheels-4.4; and extends upwardly ,throughY thef bedv5 and through :the .elevatori floor f |.0 :and yterminates in a steering vwheel |66'.

The main axle |6| is connectedtothe bed 5 -through-springs HiT-|61.

'The hydraulic --system for controlling-oil to fthe felevator cylinder 'I3 referred to -is vshown .'inrFig. 12,. ='It isfmounted onfthe upperside'of the main bed 5.

@A1 motor ffdriveszaneoil'pump |68, drawing oil l. out `ofafstorage tank reservoir: I 69 throughA a; pipe |10 and normally discharging itrbackrinto the tank |69 :by apipe lIf'l I and agpipe 11:2, through -a control `'valve =I'|3:in afnormal or oifposi tion of rtheivalve.

iUponturning' the valve toaa raiseposition .to .raise-the elevatorcaged, the oilflows from the fpip'e fI'I through ithefvalve I |3,\ through a pipe 1|"If4aand Zia-check `valve |15 and atpipe |76 lto. a pipe .'ITI, to la #distributing head `I'i8; k.thence through a pipe |79 to a distributingrheadzI'BIl' and ithencef. to pipesf1|;8I-.Iil2;tand.l from the Ydistribut- :ingiheadllflirtoza pipe |83, to,ahead |84, to -ipipes 1.324sand :|f86.

-' all: of 'themf' concurrently.

.Uponiturning the l valve |73 #back to theV "01T position, .the weight of the elevator cage vr-8 returns @the lcylinder -I3 .downwardly forcing 'the soil rout zand pback through vthe ,pipes iI3|--LB82424+I86to1the .pipe 1,11. Flow'of the :oil towardithe check l'valve f I T5 `in the ,pipe |16 now closes the checkyalvenand:divertsthezoil to .fbeyondthefmain'framefornischargngfrearward-i75faapipe fIfBI throughian-eadjustablezneedle valve |88, to the pipe |14 and valve |13 and thence by pipe |12 back to the tank |69.

As will be apparent the rate of descent of the elevator cage 8 is controlled by adjustment of the needle valve |88 and after adjustment to a preselected speed, the adjustment may be fixed.

If due to any cause upward movement of the elevator cage is obstructed, excess pressure will develop in the line |1| and open a pressure relief valve |89 and discharge cil from the line |1| through the valve |89 by a pipe |98 to the tank |69.

The operators valve |13 may be of any suitable construction. Valve parts and pipe connections of a suitable arrangement thereof are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13 and comprise a valve housing ISI, a rotary valve element |92 therein having a diametral valve duct |93 and an arcuate valve duct |93A. In one rotary position of the valve element |92, the position illustrated, the duct |93A connects the pipes |1| and |12, and iii another position connects the pipes |18 and |12; and in a third position the diametral duct connects the pipes |1| and .|141

The valve |13 may be located on the cage 8 of the elevator as shown in Fig. l where the valve is reproduced to avoid complications of the drawing. And as indicating that the pipes |1||12|18 of Fig. l2 may be led thereto, these pipes are shown in Fig. 12 as having flexible portions |9li|95|96 broken apart and therefore of any desired length.

The pump motor and the tool and conveyor driving motor ||1i may have respectively start and stop push button type electric controllers |91 and |99; and the Vehicle propelling motor |41 may have a start, stop and reversing controller |98; all mounted on the cage 8 as indicated in Fig. 1 within reach of the operation; and the electromagnetic clutch 2 I2 between the conveyor screw andtool shaft, and the electromagnetic transmission clutch |53 of Fig. 11, may have respectively push button operated on and on contactors 288 and 28| on the cage 8, Fig. 1; it being thought unnecessary to show the conventional electric circuits therefor nor a cable source of current supply to the machine as a whole.

In Fig. l at 282 is shown a tank retort of the type and size hereinbefore referred to, mounted above a furnace indicated diagrammatically at 283. The tank man-hole is shown at 288 with its cover removed; and coke 285 is shown in the tank filling it from end to end and up to a level 288.

In the general operation of the machine and process above described, the operator mounts'the floor i8 of the elevator cage 8, at l2 of Fig. 1, and by means of controller |98 starts the vehicle motor M1; and by clutch controller 28| thereafter energizes the clutch |53 to start propulsion of the vehicle and moves it out of its storage garage or the like.

By means of the steering wheel |58 he guides the vehicle to the front of the tank retort 282 Fig. 1 and positions the conveyor 2 in axial alignment with the tank extending toward the manhole 284; and then de-energizes the clutch `|53 to allow the vehicle to stop.

By means of the controller |91 he starts the pump motor l5 and by means of the valve |13, he raises or lowers the cage 8 and conveyor 2 until the boring tool 35 on the outer end of the conveyor is axially aligned and centered with the marlvT-Ol? 2515; this being .filitated by sighting 10 along the conveyor from his standing position on the cage floor at l2; and then he turns off the valve |13 and leaves the cage supported at that A elevation; and then stops the pump motor.

288 and this drives the tool shaft 38, and boring tool 35.

He then again operates the controllers |98 and 28| and the vehicle moves forward, feeding the tool 35 into the residual coke shown at 285, Fig.

.41; a suitable forward speed for the tool in the illustrative case hereof being about four feet per minute. l

The boring tool bores a hole 281, Fig. 1, in the coke from the front of the man-hole to the rear of the tank; and its borings fall into the front end of the conveyor trough 2'5 and are picked up by the conveyor screw 32 and propelled or conveyed rearwardly and discharged therefrom laterally out at the discharge spout or spouts |39.

The borings may be .allowed to fall to the ground and form a windrow along the side of the vehicle when `they can be picked up by a power operated clam-shell bucket and loaded into a freight car or truck; or arrangement can be made to discharge them directly into a car or truck.

At any time, the tool can be stopped by de-' energizing the clutch 2|2 by operating the controller 288, to allow the screw 32 to clear the conveyor.

When the tool 35 reaches the farther end of the tank, which at the speed referred to, takes about five minutes, the vehicle is reversed. This is done by operation of the reversing controller |98; and this withdraws the tool and conveyor;

boring tool 35 is slightly less than that of the` man-hole.

Practical dimensions for a tank 91/2 feet in diameter and 20 feet long are, a man-hole 60 inches in diameter and a boring tool 56 inches in diameter, boring a 56 inch hole 285. The hole therefore leaves thin shells of coke 288 and 289 two inches thick above and below it, and thicker walls of coke 2|8 and 2| on each side of it; thisl being shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A laborer now enters the hole 281 and with hand tools breaks down the shell 288 and the wall 2|8 into pieces, the pieces collecting in the hole or`v in the path of the tool. This operation is quickly performed requiring konly about ve minutes.

After the laborer finishes and comes out, the

vehicle is again propelled forwardly as before, thel -`tool 35 retracing its former path and the `tool` bores through and deposits in the conveyor trough the pieces lying on its path. When the controller |98 is a variable speed controller, the Vmotor |41 can be speeded up on this operation so that it can be performed in three minutes.

The tool is again withdrawn and the laborer goes in and breaks down the rest of the shell 288 and the other wall 2|| as before; this operation taking another vefminutes.

` The tool is fed in `againand bores through the pieces and loads them on the conveyor taking another three minutes; and the tool is finally withdrawn.

By this time, in the illustrative case referred to herein, approximately of the coke has been 1.1 removed by the tool and conveyor.` The remaining including such remnants as the bottom part of the. shell. 209,. is then shovelled out by hand labor in a mopping up operation which may take one man one hour, or two men accordingly lesstime.

It has been found that in some cases the clutch 2|2 will not be neededy and that the rear end of the screw shaft 33 may be mechanically drivingly connected to the tool shaft, by means not shown, but corresponding to permanent energization of the clutch 212.

It will' be understood by those skilled in the art that parts described as secured together but Without the securing means shown, to avoid drawing complications, may be bolted or welded together.k

Y vAlso it. will be. understood that they electromagnetic clutch |53 of Figs. 1 and 1l, and the elec* tromagnetic clutch 2I2 of. Fig. 9 may be me.- chanical clutches; and that mechanical meansv instead of hydraulic means may be provided to raiseand lower the elevator; such appara-tus being well known andl that those skilled in the art'will know how to apply the sametoY the machiney hereof without illustration or description in view of the complete description hereinbefore.V

I claim:

l. A- machine for preforming mass boring operations comprising: a mainframe, in the form of a ground wheel-supported vehicle; an elongated conveyor comprising an` upwardly open trough supported solely on the vehicle and extending forwardly therefrom,y a screw in the trough to convey rearwardly material deposited in the trough; a. rotary boring tool at the forward endof the trough disposed to deposit borings on the conveyor; power supplying means and power trans.- mission means supported by the vehicle, to drive the tool and screw, and to propel the vehicle forwardly' on its supporting wheels, to thereby feed the boring tool. inte.- ther work to be bored and` concurrently feed: the trough into; the holebored by the tool; and to propel the vehicle rearwardly to thereby withdraw the tool and trough out of the bored hole; a material discharge outleti at the rear portion ofthetrough and spout means to directl material by gravity laterally away from the path of the vehicle wheels; steering means on the vehicle whereby an operator ridingthe vehicle mayy steer it, while being propelled from a point remote from the work to beb'ored; to the work and position the. boring tool and conveyor with respect. to the-y work to,- beboredf; and power opera-ble: elevator means on.- thevehicley for` raising; and lowering. the trough and tool.

2.. A machine for performing mass boring operations comprising; a mainframe.. inY the form of a ground wheel-supported vehicle: an elongated conveyor comprising an upwardly open trough, supported solely on the vehicle frame and' extending forwardlyA therefrom.;v a rotary screw in the trough for conveying, rearwardly material deposited inthe trough; a. rotary boring tooll at the forward. endof the trough disposed to-deposit boringson. the. forward` portion of thev trough; a-tool driving shaft extending rearwardly from the boring tool; transverse bridging. elements bridging. the trough at the upper portion 12 thereof; bearings supported by they bridging elements for rotatively supporting the screw and the tool shaft; power supplying and. transmission means, supported by the vehicle frame, for driving the. tooly shaft and the screw, and for propelling the vehicle forwardly onits supportingwheels to thereby feed the boring tool into the work to be bored and to concurrently feed the trough into the hole bored by the tool, and for propelling the main frame rearwardly on its wheels to thereby withdraw the trough and tool out of the bored hole; steering means on the vehicle frame operable by an operator riding the vehicle frame to steer the vehicle to dispose the tool and conveyor in working positions with respect to the work to be bored; and power operated elevator means on the vehicle to raise and lower the tool and trough with respect tothe work to be bored.

3.-. In a machine for performingv mass boring. operations-a main vehicle. frame supported on ground-wheels; and comprising an elevator frame guided for vertical movements on the vehicle. frame; an upwardly open elongated conveyor trough. supported at a rearward portion on the elevator frame and extending forwardly therefrom; an elongated conveyor screw in the conveyor trough having a tubular screw shaft and bearings supported by the conveyor trough rota-tively and axially fioatingly supporting the screw shaft; a rotary boring tool at the forward end of the conveyor trough having a drive shaft extending rearwardly within the hollow screw shaft and bearings within the screw shaft rotatively supporting the tool shaft; the tool shaft having a rear end portion extending rearwardly out of the screw shaft and a bearing on the elevator frame for preventing endwise displacement of the tool shaft comprising end thrust bearing portions.; one. ofy the bearings within the screw shaft supporting. the tool shaft having means for preventing axial movement of the floatingly supported screwA shaft a power supplying motor and power transmission means, on the elevator frame for rotatively driving the screw shaft and the said rear end portion of the tool shaft; an operably engageable. and disengageable clutch in the line of transmission between the power supplying motor and the tool shaft; a power supplying motor and power transmission means on the vehicle. frame to operate the elevator frame; a power supplying motor and power transmission meanson the vehicle frame to propel the vehicle onits ground Wheels-,and operable by an operator riding the vehicley to steer it.

CHESTER A. LEWIS.

References. Cited in the. file of thisA patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS 

